Center for fireproof arches.



No. 655,426. Patented Aug. 7, I900. G. B. WAITE.

CENTER FOR FIREPROOF ABGHES.

(Application filed Ian. 28, 1899.)

(Ho Model.)

I r m i i X 7W Wm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY BENNETT WAITE, OF HOBOKEN, JERSEY.

CENTER FOR FIR'EPROOF. ARoHEs.

srncrrronrrou forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,426, dated August "7, l'eoo. Application filed January 28,1899. Serial No. 703,756. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, GUY BENNETT WAITE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Centers for Fireproof Arches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto an adjustable centering or temporary support'for arches used in the construction of floors for fireproof buildings which can be adapted to the variation in spans and which will be simple and light to handle.

Brick or terra-cotta arches used in floor construction require temporary supports to sus-' tain them in place until the mortar between the joints is thoroughly set and the arch is able to carry itself. Heretofore the centering has been constructed of heavy woodwork hung to the steel beams by hangers which hook over the flanges of the beams and which must be newly constructed for each different arch. All of these centers are cumbersomeand heavy to handle, and in the case of the segmental-arch center are expensive to construct, as after being once used they are, as a rule, of no future use.

In my system of construction the centers are adjustable to any span and may be used as often as desired and are light to handle.

Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail of the fastening of the centering shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are details of construction of the supporting-ribs.

In all views like letters refer to like parts.

My centering consists usually of supporting-ribs a, Figs. 1 and 2, which go in between the flanges f of the beams I and are hooked thereto by means of hangers h and centers F, stretched over said ribs. The supporting-rib a is composed of two members a and ct,which Fig. 2 is a slide overeach other to accommodate any span and when used for segmental arches 'being both bent to the same curve maintain the same curve for all spans. To each member a and a is rigidly attached a hanger h, which'will be described later. To the member a? is rigidly attached a simple pendent hook-shaped yoke 8, (see detail Fig. 7,) bent around so as to support the member 61/, the latter being free to slide through it. To the member a is likewise attached a portion of the clamp '0. Thisclamp c performs the same function with respect to the member a that the yoke s does with respect to the member a, the member a sliding through the clamp c. The clamp c is'composed of two parts 0 and c", neither of which projects above the rib ct. o is fastened to the member a and is notched at n to receive the bolt 19, which bolt may have a nut m or be tapped into part c. When the bolt Z) is loose, a can slide freely on a, but when the bolt b is tightened the two members a and a are held firmly together by the clamp-jaws c and c. By means of the notch n the bolt 1) receives its support from a and in'turn supports the end of a. r

The hangers h are so constructed that they can readily be removed after the arches are in place. To accomplish this the upper portion of the notch in the hanger itself and the top of the hanger are cut on curves with center at a point 10 within the contour. of the hanger. Thus when the ribs are to be removed the clamp o is loosened and the bolt 1; taken out of the notch 12, allowing the members a and a" to drop. The hanger and its attached member swings about the point 29 until the head of the hanger is removed from the brickwork. The notches, however,when the ribs are in place should bind the lower flange of the beam with sufficient firmness to prevent the arched ribs from canting in use. Although their use is preferable, I do not wish to restrict myself in all cases to the use of the details, as many other constructions which movements described will sufficiently answer the purpose. lhave,for instance,constructed riba by simplyinserting a bolt through a long of proper size in the other member, thus allowwill hold ct and a together and allow the slot K, cut inone member and through a hole I ing the two members to slide over each other 7 the full length of the slot. This construction is, however, more expensive to manufacture and more diflicult to take down after the arch is set. When, as is usually the case, it is not desirable to place the ribs or close enough together to lay the arches directly on them, centers F or F are stretched over said ribs.

Centers F and F are made up of narrow slats 0 ando joined together, so that pieceso are connected to each other and Q) are also connected to each other, but 0 are free to move on v. Straps dconnect the former and straps e connect the latter. Where 0 and 21 overlap each other, straps d and e are usually fastened on both the top sides and the bottom sides of the slats and form inclosures through which the other set of slats can slide.

Thus slats 0 pass through between the straps e, fastened on the top side and the bottom side of the ends of slats v; also, slats v pass through between the straps d, fastened on the top side and on the bottom side of the 1 ends of slats 0. Itis thus seen that the center F, composed of sets of slats 0 and Q), can be extended more or less longitudinally, as required, all as indicated in Fig. 2, or it can be entirely closed up, as shown in Fig. 3. These centers are made in convenient sizes and of lengths to be readily handled, and are usually carried to. the place where they are to be used, closed together, as shown in Fig. 3, and are when in. place pulled out until the entire space which it is desirable to cover is thus completed.

It will seldom be found that the width of the arch'will be exactly covered by centersF, which centers are usually made of the same width. To. complete the unfinished space which-has been left after using several widths;

of centers F and also to exactly cover irregular spaces. which are wider at one. end than at the other or spaces which are not inclosed by straight lines, centers F, Figs. 2, 4., and

5, are used. The construction of F allows 1 of expansion or contraction both lengthwise (similar to F); and crosswise. The only difference between the construction of F and F is in the straps d and e. In F the straps d and a will usually be made in one continuous piece extending entirely across all slats 0 ando, and in F the straps d and e are made in separate pieces, (see Fig. 6,). each piece extendin g from one slat only to the next adjacent slat of the screw passing through the small hole in this.

strap (see Fig. 6) fastens it to the first, slat 0.

Now the next, slat 0. (when in its normal postrap d. Thus the entire center F is made by each strap lapping over its predecessor, and the nail or the screw which fastens each strap 01 or d to 0 passes through the slot of the strap underneath and into the slat 0. In this way F can be made to expand sidewise by means of slot 15, Fig. 6, allowing 0 to move away from or toward the next adjacent slat, the amount of such movement depending on the length of the slot t.

I do not restrict myself to the particular detail here shown, Fig. 6, to allow of the expansion crosswise, as many similar devices can be used to. answer the same purpose of the slot t.

secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. An adjustable centering for arches composed of supporting-ribsand expandingcens tering resting upon the said ribs, substantially as described. 2. An adjustable centering for arches composed of adjustable ribs, 0., and expanding centering, F, resting upon the. said; arches, substantially as shown and described.

3. An adjustable centering for archescome :posed of slats'arranged in sets, each set being fastened together by a device which; will allow the extension of the centering while preserving its capacity to act as one piece, all substantially as set forth.

4. An adjustable centering for arches con-'- sisting of slats each set of said slats being fastened together by straps. which allow the extension crosswise of the center while pre serving its capacity to act as one piece, substantially as described.

. posed of slats a and slats 0', each set of slats being fastened together by straps cl and e having longitudinal slots to allow of the ex pansion of the centering crosswise, substan j tially as shown and described. 6 An adjustable centering for arches-con:- sisting of ribs a each composed of two lapping members; a ct with means for support ing their outer ends, a yoke s on the member 1 of hooked beneath the other, a clamp, on the 2 member a having a notch opening longiturli nally of the rib, and a pin. onthe; member a removablyen gaging saidu otch, substan tially' as shown and described. a 'Z'. An adjustable centering for arches consisting of ribs, each in two lapping memberswith supporting-hangers at their outer ends,- a yoke secured on one member and hooked K under but not over the other, and a clamp se cured on the last mentioned member and de- ;tachably engaging the first-mentioned, sub.- stantially as shown and described.

8. An adjustable centering for arches con 2 sisting of ribs, each in two lapping members 1 with supporting-hangers at their outer ends, ,means for supporting the inner end of one member from the other, and a clamp in two 5. An adjustable centering for arches, com;

3 parts one secured to the last-mentioned meme her and notched and the other held to the Within the contour of the clip to facilitate the first-mentioned member bya bolt removably removal of said ribs from the arches, sub- 10 engaging said notch, substantially as shown stantially as set forth. and described. T

5 9. An adjustable centering for arches con- GUY BENDETT WAITD' sisting of supporting-ribs, a, hung t0 the Witnesses: flanges of the beams by means of clips, h, I. S. CHIRURG, having edges curved about the center, 19, JOHN H. I-IANAN. 

